The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Union,
A FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE.
PAPER No. IL.

houses are very curious. many OF them are Dullt
with projecting upper stories and in most of these
the front OF the projecting portion consists of one
great oriel window or of several smaller ones side
BY side, having myriads of tiny panes framed in
lead.
The Cathedral is the most wonderful and, ex
cept that of Cologne, the most beautiful we saw
Its architecture runs through three periods-the
Anglo Saxon, the Norman and the early English
1t was partly destroyed by fire in one of these
architectural ages and restored according to an
other 1t has been enlarged, heightened and add
ed to from time to time, and consequently exhibits
a strange mixture of what are technically called
cold work" and "new work" specimens of detail.
The nave is broken in q peculiar manner by
flight of stone steps leading up to the choir, direct
ly back of which and in the main body of the
building is the chance. The apse, which lies
still higher than the choir and which in most
Cathedrals contains the chancel, is here vacant
and bare. 1t once held the tomb of Thomas a.
Beckett, and depressions in the stone steps leading
up from the side aises, worn by the knees of pill
grms to this shrine, still pointed to the visitor.
The spot upon which this naughty prelate was
murdered by the indignant knights of Henry H.,
is also pointed out the floor of the noble clois
tiers, with what degree of accuracy it is not for us
to say. The crypt is said to be the most beauti-
full in the world and is supported and adorned by
cross arches and pillars, which are superb speci-
mems of the Romanesque.
No spot in all England held such charm for us
as 04ford-City of Colleges-colleges hoary with
age, but full of the power of youth and crowned
with ever increasing and well deserved fame
Through the arched entrance way in the great
stone wall, under the belfry of "Big Tom," we
passed into the great square court of Christ
Church. We simply accepted the fact, without
trying to realize it, that this building had been
founded by Cardinal Wolsey. We felt that to the
dullest brain such institution of learning must
prove glorious inspiration, and that powerful
spur to noble endeavor must come from the daily
contemplation of the portraits that the walls
of the great dining hall-portraits of men who
from time to time have gone forth from this insti
tuition to make the whole world vibrate with the
noise of their fame.
We were anxious to see the domiciliary accom-
modations of the students. 1t was the summer
vacation time and we had our opportunity. We
were shown into the apartment of one Hon. Mr..
Fuller. An apartment consists of parlor, bed
chamber and bathroom. The Hon Mr.. Fuller
must have had dainty taste and an ample purse
His parlor was exquistely finished in blue and
gilt, carpeted with moquette in azure and yellow,
and furnished in plush and brocatee, combining
the same delicate colors He was probably
blonde and consulted be,omingness to his COM
plexion in his surroundings. The bed chamber
and bath room were appointed in the same elegant
and-we had almost said ladylike-manner.
NeW anu heTIOD, ming anu maRuelen are only
few of the many colleges of this seat of learning
each with its separate faculty but all under one
general management. The grounds of Magdelen
are the most beautiful of all that we visited, and
here too is Addison's Walk, lovely tree arbored
path, charmingy inspiring we should judge to the
mind of the student peripatetically inclined
In Stratford we stupidity expected to see an old
time English village. We saw instead O most
commonplace manufacturing town, extensive and
busy.
Ofcourse we passed through Shakespeare's house
and gazed as in duty bound upon the numerous
memorials. The boards put up by the butcher
were pointed out u sort of conservation of the
domicile to the memory of the iustrious occu-
pant. Shakespeares desk and chair and signet
ring, with host of other articles of like heavy
interest, were pressed upon our attention. We are
not much of q relic-reverencer. What Shakes
peare wrote is of infinite value to US. 0fless than
little value are these things he once owned. They
are no part of him and never were. We found
the church more interesting. 1t gave us a curious
sensation to read those words above his tomb and
to look down upon the name of his daughter
Judith, whose character we shall always associate
with Blacks charming story. The bust of the
great poet is at present gorgeous with bright col
oring. We wondered at the vulgar taste that
could have countenanced it. We were told that
it was put on-eyidently to stay-when the statue
was first set up, but that for years it had been
covered with coat of white plaster which had
been but recently removed. We thought it pity
that the plaster had not been allowed to remain.
We noticed in this church peculiar deviation
from right line in the direction of the nave to-
| ward the chancel. We ventured to question the
| guide. We were informed with "squelching'
brevity that our Lords head had depended to the
| left as he hung upon the cross. We meekly re-
| piled that we had not heard of that before.
Warwick was our next objective point, for the
sake of the castle and its proximity to the ruins Of
| Kenilworth. In Warwick Castle we found what
we had been longing to see of these old feudal
buildings in perfect state of preservation. The
Greviles trace their ancestry to the Round Table
The castle made its mark in history long before
the Norman conquest. The grounds comprise five
| hundred acres of park and garden, surrounded by
| a high stone wall, silent but powerful common
tary to the thoughtful mind upon the peasant cry
| of "more land to work lest we starve." The en-
trance to the castle is through double set of iron
| gates into broad road deeply cut for perhaps a
hundred yards through solid rock. This is bor-
dered with trees above the rocky sides, which are
| themselves almost concealed by ivy. The road
after curious winding, opens upon q broad tree
planted area, directly in front Of the magnificent
structure, and brings into view the turf grown
| moat, over which sodded arch takes the place Of
the draw bridge, and the two stately towers. Guys
on the right, Caesars on the left. The towers are
arched entrance to the castle. Here is the Ole
portcullis with bars and spikes, weights and chains
| intact. 1t serves as a modern gate and is drawn
and dropped morning and night with all the pre-
csion of feudal times. The great court is circu
lar. The turf covering it has the fneness of vel
vet. The ivy-draped walls have a broad stone
walk near the battlemented top, on which white
pea-fowls strut in majestic beauty.
| The state apartments are open to visitors and
| contain intinUs hv the famous m stnrs al
| all schools. Among them is the noted equestrian
| portrait of Charles Life size-by Vandyck
The baronial hall, with its collection of armor ant
antiquities, its great open fireplace and its i'm
paneled wooden ceiling, is an ideal apartment
| The chambers within the thickness of q window
less portion of the inner wall excited curiosity
| and interest. 1t was from such chamber, doubt
less, that the Countess of Derby stepped in her in
PRODUCTION into "Pereil of the Peak" We were
not without feeling of strong indignation toward
| the "Protector," when we looked upon the ruin o
Kenilworth, and comparing it with Warwick
thought what it might have been but for his desc
lating fervor. Nothing of the historic pile re
mains but scattered walls of red sandstone, ivy
hung and picturesque in the extreme but fast fall
ing into absolute decay.
Chester is another quaint old town. Its ancien
wall is in perfect state of preservation and ha
been turned into fashionable promenade by hav
ing its top paved with fag-stones and by being
furnished with flights of steps leading down int
the principal streets. The Cathedral dates from
remotest times and is wonderful structure. W
attended service in it, which intoned through
out even to the prayers and responses. TIL
rythmic cadenced delivery q the sermon made u
wonder if that were not intoned too.
Liverpool is a smaller London, without London
historic interest. Its docks are wonders of thei
kind, but impressed US less than they would hav
done, perhaps, if our minds had not been preoccu
pied, as it were, with the prospect of our EN-
barking upon the "briny." The voyage was roug
and we landed in New York with our physical be
ing somewhat faccid from a ten days confne
ment to the stateroom. The delay and inconveni
ence of custom house surveillance was rather cal
culated to put damper on our enthusiasm 70
American institutions, but having had time
calmly deliberate upon our experiences and
make fair comparison of notes, we have arrive
at the conclusion that we are more of a "roarin
Yankee" than ever. NJ. A. G..
Mg-The Westminster Sentinel says: 9th
BALTIMORE COUNTY UNION has entered upon il
thirty eighth volume and is one of the best paper
in the State, always keeping its readers poste
with the news"
A Picnic FOR THE EcoNoMIcAL.-The chanc